Merchandise display



7 Aug. 2, 1949. E. MESSERSCHMIDT MERCHANDISE DISPLAY 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 9, 1945 Eves? Msserscfimzd? g- 1949- E. MESSERSCHMIDT 2,477,761

' MERCHAND DISPLAY Filed June 9, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 E2165? Measerscimzdz WWW Em lit atented Aug. 2, 1949 NITED STATE GFFICE 4 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in merchandise display shelving for stores, and has particular reference to display shelving of that type embodying a plurality of display stand units disposed on the floor in abutting end to end relation, each unit having a plurality of terraced shelves successively stepped higher from front to rear of the units.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide shelving of the above kind in which the display stand units are so constructed as to facilitate reaching articles displayed on the higher shelves of said units.

More specifically, the invention contemplates provision of display stand units in which at least the lowest front shelf of each unit is cut away to provide a recess affording standing room adjacent a higher shelf of the unit to facilitate reaching articles displayed on still higher shelves of said unit.

The exact nature of the present invention will become apparent from the following description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings:

Figure l is a floor plan of a store provided with merchandise display shelving constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 is an enlarged transverse vertical section taken on line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an enlarged end elevational view of the centrally located shelving assembly shown in Figure 1.

Figure 4 is an enlarged perspective view of one of the display stand units forming part of the assembly shown in Figures 1 and 3.

Referring in detail to the drawings, the front, rear and side walls of a store are indicated by the dotted outline A in Figure 1, suitable entrance doors 5 being provided at the front of the store. In the arrangement illustrated in Figure 1, a shelving assembly is provided to extend along both sides of the store and along the back of the same, as indicated at 6. Another shelving assembly is located centrally and longitudinally of the store at i, midway between and spaced from the side portions of the assembly 6.

As shown, each shelving assembly comprises a plurality of display stand units 8 and 8a disposed on the floor of the store in abutting end to end relation, each unit having a plurality of terraced shelves 9 successively stepped higher from front to rear of the unit. The units 8 are what may be termed intermediate units, while the units 8a may be termed end units, units 8a being employed at the ends of a shelving assembly otherwise composed of a plurality of the units 8. As shown, the shelves of units 8 are straight and extend from side to side of the unit. On the other hand, the shelves of the units 8a are curved so as to extend from one side of the unit to the back of the same at the other side. In this way, the units 8a provide a finished appearance to the shelving assembly. The shelves of the units 8 and 8a are otherwise similar so that when the units are disposed in end to end relation, the shelves of each. unit will coincide with those of adjacent units to provide continuous shelving throughout the shelving assembly. The central assembly of Figure 1 is in reality two similar assemblies disposed back to back so as to provide a double assembly affording shelves along both sides.

The units 8 and 3a. may be constructed in any suitable maner. As shown in Figure 2, they may consist of a suitable frame work it including inclined runers i 5 having stepped front edges, riser boards l2 being nailed or otherwise secured to the vertical portions of such stepped edges and shelf boards it being nailed to the horizontal portions of said stepped edges. Substantially the same construction is shown in Figure 4 except that the runners ila are terminated above the lowermost shelf, the latter being directly constructed on the lower portion of a wide board whose upper portion forms the riser iZa for the next to lowest shelf. Otherwise, the constructions of Figures 2 and 4 are similar and remaining like parts of both forms are indicated by similar reference characters.

An important and salient feature of the present invention is that at least the lowest front shelf of each display stand unit is cut away at I 4 to provide a recess affording standing room adjacent a higher shelf of said unit to facilitate reaching articles displayed on still higher shelves of the unit. The recess may be partly formed by cutting away the adjacent ends of adjacent units as shown with respect to certain of the units in Figure l, or by merely cutting away at least the lowest front shelf of each unit at one end of the shelf or at one side of the unit. In the assembly provided at the sides and back of the store in Figure 1, the two lower-most'shelves are cut away at the ends. On the other hand, the central assembly of Figure 1 and the unit shown in Figure 4 provide for only cutting away the lower-most shelf of each unit. The former may be necessary when the units are relatively deep and embody a plurality of relatively narrow shelves, while the cutting away of a single shelf may be practiced when the units are not quite so deep or when the shelves are relatively wide. It will be noted that.

when the shelves are cut away at the ends, as shown, the recesses M are provided so that standing room is afiorded between lower shelves of adjacent units to facilitate reaching articles displayed on still higher shelves of both of said adjacent units. The arrangement avoids excessive stretching to reach the articles on higher shelves and promotes the ease of reaching said articles without upsetting or disturbing other articles. Also, this is permitted with the person standing on the floor and not requiring the aid of a stool or the like, as long as the shelves are not built higher than the average height of a person. In use, the person desiring to reach an article on higher shelves of any unit may readily step into the recess I l at the proper point. When this is done, the person is brought nearer to and within reach of the articles on the higher shelf or shelves.

From the foregoing description, it is believed that the construction, manner of use and advantages of the present invention will be readily understood and appreciated by those skilled in the art. Minor changes may be made, such as fall within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What I claim is:

1. In merchandise display shelving assembly for stores, a legless shelf unit adapted to rest directly on the floor and having a plurality of terraced shelves from top to bottom thereof, the ends of all of said shelves being in the same vertical plane at one end of the unit, at least the lowest front shelf of the unit extending a less distance than the remaining shelves thereof so that its other end terminates in a transverse vertical plane short of the other ends of said remaining shelves to provide a standing room recess between the lowest shelves of adjoining units when 4 a plurality of said units are disposed in contacting end to end relation to form the shelving assembly.

2. The construction defined in claim 1, wherein corresponding end portions of all of said shelves are curved so that the first-named ends thereof terminate in the same plane as the back of the unit.

3. Merchandise display shelving for stores comprising an assembly of legless display stand units disposed directly on the floor of the store in abutting end-to-end relation and having a plurality of terraced shelves, the shelves of each unit coinciding with those of adjacent units, at least the lowest front shelf of each unit being cut away at one end only to provide a recess between the cut-away shelves of adjacent units which afford standing room to facilitate reaching articles displayed on higher shelves of adjacent units.

1. The construction defined in claim 3, wherein the unit at each end of the assembl has its shelves curved rearwardly at one end only to the back of the unit, the remaining units of the assembly providing straight shelves extending from side to side of the units.

ERNEST MESSERSCHMIDT.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date D. 118,294 Trojan Dec. 26, 1939 398,695 Ganter r Feb. 26, 1889 1,052,543 Wiesbauer et a1. Feb. 11, 1913 1,580,061 Lund Apr. 6, 1926 2,023,304 Donalies et a1 Dec. 10, 1935 2,100,403 Mancuso Nov. 30, 1937 

